Tire alarm



' June 24, 1930. L. c. GALLI TIRE ALARM Filed May 27, 1929 Patented June 24, 1930 LOUIS c. GALLI, F ERNDALE, M RYLAND TIRE ALARM r Application filed May 27,1929. Serial 1%. 366,384.

This invention relates'to alarms for'advismg the driver of a vehicle employing neuthe vehicle may pass frequently over rough or muddy 'roadsor otherwise be subjected to the matictires that a tire is not .in a proper condition of inflation; Nhile alarms of this character may be provided to denote overinflation or underinflation, their principal service isto warn the driver when his tire has become nearly or quite flat, as by reason of a puncture, leaky valve, or the like, and it is 39 in connection with this servicethat the pres' e'nt invention will be described, although it is to be expressly understood that the .invention may be'embodiedin devices for advising the driver of overinflation or underin-v 35 fiation within the purview of this invention. It has heretofore been proposed to provide each tire with a devicewhich is rendered oprigorous conditions frequ by such vehicles. I Y r Another object ofthis invention is topro- 55 vide a tire alarm which is composed of elements that are strong and durable so that the device is unlikely to break in service and thereforebe inoperative at the very time when its warning is needed.

Another object of this invention is to proently encountered vide a tire alarm which-is inconspicuous and ;-may be readily attached to the inner side of .the wheel where it will not be unsightly.

Another object of this inventionisto pro:

'vide a tire alarm which is so constructed that .itvwill not give-false alarm'sunder the side erative'when the tire is fiat for the purpose. of ringing a bell, operating abuzzer, or otherwise producing asignal that will be audible Another obj vide a tire alarm which is so constructed that to the driver. Devices of this characterhera; 1 tofore suggested, however,.have been open to'various objections, among which may benoted the complexity of construction rendering the device too expensive for ordinary use,

. lack of ruggedness so that the device may become inoperative under the rigors of the sway of the vehicle or when the vehicle is turning a'corner,etc. 1

ect of this invention is to proit will function although it may become coated with mud or snow, etc.

Other objects will appear as the de of the invention proceeds. I o

' The, invention is capable of receiving a scription variety of mechanical expressions, two .of

service to which it is put, lack of durabilityso that one or more'parts are likely to become broken under service conditions, unsightlionly, and not to be construed as a definition nessas an attachment tothe wheel, oversensiti-venessso that the device may give false Slg-' nals under the side sway ofthe vehicle, insensitiveness so that the device may fail. to

which are shown on the accompanying drawing, but, 1t 18 to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration of the limits of the invention, reference being had tothe appended claims for that purpose.-

3 work in the presence of mud, snow and the willcontinlle .opera e ,nq wi h d ng th vide a tire alarm which is rugged so that it Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference characters are applied to the same parts in the difierent figures Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic viewof an automobile equipped with the present invention;

with the parts separated s to proembodiment shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section-ofthe'felly and tire showing an embodiment of the pres 9 ent invention in operative position;

Fig. ,3 is a perspective view of the alarm for clearness of understanding;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a wire wheel with an embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon; and r Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective of the ;I.. the rm s ow i igsfelly of the wheel by means of one 'of the bolts, commonly employed to retain a demountable ring in position, but it is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not restricted to this manner of mounting the alarm, as any suitable mounting means may be employed. As shown, the alarm comprises a base member provided with a projection 11 which is apertured at 12 so that the base member may be secured to'constitutea pivot bearing. WVhile this base member may be builtup of separate 7 parts, it is preferredfor cheapness and simplicity of construction to stamp theentire member out of sheet metal and bend the portion 17 into the proper angular relationship a bearing.

for the support of the lever hereinafter described, the extremity of the portion 17 being bent into the sleeve 18jto provide a pivot provided with apertures 19 for the more ready inflow and outflow-of air to the chamber back of the diaphragm to be described.-

I Pivotally mounted in the sleeve 18 is a lever 20 of such length that its free end 21 extends radially to approximately the midthickness of the tire when properly inflated.

The opposite end of the lever 22 is apertured be selected in accordance with the co nven 7 may be bent right angularly and apertured at 23 for attaching means to the diaphragm,

and intermediate its length said lever carries a pivot pin 24 mounted in any suitable way thereon. The ratio of the lever arms may ience of installation or in accordance with the volume of sound desired. For simplicity of construction, the lever is preferably stamped out of sheet metal and bent into the desired shape, and to provide the mounting for the pivot pin 24 the blank of the lever has laterally extending portions 25 which to provide the pivot mounting. Theflever is preferably made of spring material for a purpose hereinafter explained, and is therefore desirably made of spring steel. If desired,

' however, the lever may be made in two parts,

" with the tire engagingend of spring steel pin 24 in the sleeve 18 and a spring 26 is and the opposite end of sheet iron. l

Lever 20 is mounted my means of the pivot f preferably provided to normally urge the free endof the lever toward'the tire; As

shown, a coil spring is wrapped around the pivot pin 24 within the'housing afforded by the pivot carrying lugs 25-, and has its free end bearing against that end of the'lever which is attached to the diaphragm. The sleeve 18 is interrupted intermediate its length, as shown at 27, to provide a space The base member 10 may also be .coil spring 26, will for the wrapping of the coil spring around the pivot pin.

Also mounted on the base member 10 is a diaphragm 30. If desired the housing for the the diaphragm may be formed on or attached to the base member 10, separately from the diaphragm 30, but as shown, the housing 31 for the diaphragm is formed integral with the diaphragm and takes the form of a cylindrical flange integral with the periphery of the diaphragm. Any suitable means may be provided. for attaching the housing 31 to base member '10. In the form shown the base meml er 10 is provided with a plurality of tabs 32 and the housing'flange 31 is conceived so that the tabs 32 may be bent into interlocking engagement therewith. If desired,however,thehousing may be provided with an apertured flange or aperture tabs to interengage with the tabs on the base mem ber,-or tabs to engage in. apertures in the base member. The diaphragm and its housing ar preferably drawn as a cup from material of suiiicient thinness and resilience so that the bottom of the cup shall constitute a diaphragm having the requisite range of move ment and volume of sound.

The diaphragm is attached to the end 22 of the lever 20 in any suitable way, as by a pin or bolt 35 passing through a central aperi ture in the diaphragm 30 and the aperture 23 in lever 20, to which latter it issecured by a nut 36. To prevcnt'th'ev bolt and nut from working loose the head 38 of the bolt and the aperture in the diaphragm, or, a depression around the same. maybe suitably shaped to prevent relative rotation. Similarly, the end 22 of lever 20 may-have a depression around the hole 23 shaped .to fit the nut 36 so that the engagement of the nut 36 in the depression of the lever, under the action of the nut. r r

Mounted on the bolt 35 between-the lever 20 and the diaphragm 80 1s a sleeve member 40,

' the length of which be less than the normal distance between'the end of the lever an d the diaphragm so that when the aperture 23 in the lever 20 is made larger than the bolt, to permit relative movement between the lever and bolt-as is preferred, the lever'will force the sleeve ahead ofit and engage and actuate the diaphragm only. after aninterval of movement determined by the difference in length between thesleeve 40 and the normal distance between the end of the lever and the diaphragm. This arrangement enables the diaphragm to be actuated more by impact than by mere lever operation, and a somewhat sharper and more dlStlIlCtlVG warning is obtained. However, if desire,d,the sleeve may completely fill the space between the lever and 1 di'aphrgam, or the sleeve-maybe omitted and the lever fixedly attached to the bolt When the lever moves relatively to the bolt any suitprevent rotation of said ed in such shape that they are ayzeaols sition, the bolts 53- and nuts 54. being shown direction.

the wheel the diaphragm is caused to give two for clamping the extensions 51 on the spokes. ln the form shown, the diaphragm housing 31 is provided w'ithtabs55 which may pass through apertures in the base member and be bent into interlocking with. Gtherwisathe structure of Figs. 4: and 5 is, or'inay be, identical with vthat heretofore described in conjunction with Figs. 1 In operation, the parts are normally in the osition shown in F ig. Qand the free end 21 f the 'leverQOiscontiguous to but out of enagement =with th'e middle portion of the tire. is long asth'e tire remains normally inflated the lever 20 will not beactu'ated. If the tire becomes abnormally deflated or flat, -how-' ever,=tlietire is bulged laterally by the weight of the car and every proaches the. ground, this lateral bulging of the tire forcestlie free end of=the lever '20 outwardly, causing the inner end of the lever t e-move toward the right, .a's viewed in Fig. 2, and actuate thedi'aphragm 30.; As tlie-alarm recedes from the ground, the Weight having been taken off of jtlietire adjacent thereto, the lateral bulgi'n'g of the'tir-e decreases and the'lever '20 moves to the Fig.2, undenaction of the spring 26, andtlie diaphragm- 3O is operated in the opposite Therefore, in every rotation of sharp clicks or signals w'hich are of sufficient volume to warn illlG-dllVQTOftllB condition of end of the lever underfpressures of I11t11d6,-l1'1l when the sleeve histire'.

" Owing tothe-resilient character of the lever 20, the lever may give under small pressures without operating the diaphragm, the spring '26 resisting inward movement of the inner there is normally a space between the end of the sleeve and the diapliragm, the lever even have a slight without actuating the diaphragm. Therefore, in round'ng corners tions,the lateral bulging of the tire does not cause the alarm to be actuated;

It will, therefore, be perceived that a tire alarm has been provided which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. All of the parts except the pivot pin and thediaphragm connection may bent to shape.

engagement thereto give the desired note of warning time the alarm ap- 7 whether the to the lever endor the diaphragm is actuated. by an illustrated on the drawing have been left as viewed in I scribed with considerable particularity, it is suchmagtion.

l0 is used so that bodily movement or similar condi- 1 be formed up of sheet metalstamped and lhe device is, therefore, inexpensiveto manufacture and maybe produced in quantities at a low cost because of the simplicity of the manufacturing and as:

sembling operations. The tire alarm may also be easily mounted on the wheel by the ordinary driver without useof special tools or special skill.

The structure is both rugged and durable because its parts are of a character to be broken not likely or rendered inoperative even under the most rigorous conditions of travel.

"Moreover, theconstruction is suclithat the device is unlikely to become inoperative al-.v

though coated with mud or snow, and at the same time it is not so sensitive] as togive false warnings under side sway or in rounding a corner. Also, the structure is such that there is no appreciable the side of the wheel, and by mounting the same on once of the alarm is barely noticeable. lhere is thus provided a tire alarm which may be sold at a reasonable price and whi'clnbecause :ably certain to be in operative condition whenever the need of its service arises."-

The device may also be readily adjusted by tightening or loosening the nut '36 so as to'vary the extent of movement of the'lever end in actuating the diaphragm, and this is true diaphragm is fixedly attached interposed sleeve forced into engagement therewith by the lever arm.

While the embodiments of the invention to be r expressly .under stood th'at the invention is :not restricted thereto, as the invention is capableof receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the materials and details of construction and in the arrangement and proportion of parts, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

to be hadto-the ape Reference is, therefore, pended claims for a definition of the inven- What is claimed is z I i 1. In a tire alarm, a

I 2; In a tire alarm, a base member adapted to be mounted mounted on said base member, and a lever on a wheel, a diaphragm of resilient material pivot-ally mounted on protuberance from.

the inner side .of the wheel the presso of its ruggedness and durability, is reas'onbase member adapted to be mounted on a wheel, a diaphragm I to eral and a lever of resilient material pivotally said diaphragm and its pposite end disposed ,7

to be extending sectio diaphragm mounted on said base to be moun support, a diaphragm mounted on sald base mounted on said support, said lever having one end operatively related to said diaphragm and its opposite end positioned to be actuated by said tire.

4. In a tire alarm, a base iorming a diaphragm, and a lever mounted on said base member, said lever having one end; extending adjacent to and operatively related to said diaphragm and its opposite enddisposed to be actuated by said tire.

5. In tire alarm, a'base member adapted mounted on a Wheel, a cup-shaped mem ber mounted on said base member and forming a diaphragm, and a lo? ient material mounted on said b member, said lever having one end operatively related to to be actuated by said tire.

In a tire alarm a. base member "formed of sheet'material and having an angularly n forminga pivot support, a member, and a lever of sheet material pivotally mounted on said extension, said lever having one end extending adjacent to, and operative ly related to said diaphragm and its opposite end disposed to be actuated by said tire.

'Z. In a tire alarm, a base member adapted ed on a Wheel and having a pivot member, and a lever formed of sheet spring *metal and mounted on said pivot support,

said lever having one end operatively related to said diaphragm with its opposite end disposed to be actuated'by said tire.

8. In a tire alarm, a base member adapted to be mounted on a Wheel and provided with apivotsupport, a sheetmetal cup. mounted on said base member with the bottom of said cup constituting a diaphragm, said base memtion and a lever her and cup being provided with interlocking means for. fixedly retaining said cup in posimounted on said pivot support, said lever related to said diaphragm and its opposite end'disposed to be actuated by the tire,

9. In a tire alarm, abase memberadapted be mounted on a Wheel, a diaphragm mounted on said base member, a lever of resilient material mounted on said'lever having one end operatively related to-said diaphragm and its opposite end disposed to beactuated by the tire, and means or resisting actuation of said diaphragm by end in position to be having one end operativelysaid base member,

reason of pressures on said lever below a prel iletermined magnitude.

10. In a tire alarm, a base member adapted to be mounted on a Wheel, a dlaphragm mounted on said base member, a lever of leverexactuated by said tire, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of said lever With said 'iaphragm and ad ust- In a tire alarm, a base member adapted actuating movement able to predetermine the movement thereof tobe mounted on a Whcel,,a diaphragm mounted on said base member, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member With one actuated by the tire, the opposite end of said lever being spaced from said diaphragm, and meansincluding a lost motion connection and operatively connecting said diaphragm with said end of the lever. r r

13. In a tire alarm, a base member adapted to be mounted on a Wheel, a diaphragm mountedon said base member, a lever mounted on said base member With one end in position to beactuated by said tire, the opposite end of said lever being spaced from said diaphragm, a pin projecting from said diaphragm and passing throughan aperture in said lever, and a sleeve mounted on said pin and interposedbetween said diaphragm and mal distancebetvveen,said diaphragm and lever. 7 r v 14.7 In a tire alarm, to be mounted on a mounted on said base ally mounted on said end in position to-be'actuated Wheel, a diaphragm member, a lever'pivotbase member Withone by the tire, and

a bolt and nut connection between said dia-s;

phragm and theopposite end of said lever, said bolt and nut having interlocking engagement with said diaphragm and lever to prevent relative rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed this f,

specificationl' I LOUIS C. GALLI.

a base member adaptedQ 

